Signal device for road crossings



' mmm@ Aug. M., w23

H. HEIMENDINGER SGNAL DEVICE FOR ROADv CROSSINGS Fildvoct. 24, 1922 Patented Aug. 14, 12923.

- UNITED STATES'.

rattan Parent HENRY HIIEIIIlLIEIIIADINGIEYR,r OF EME CIEIARILEEg, LOUISEAN.

' SIGNAL Davies ron noaa' caossrues.

Application led October 24, 1922. Serial No. 596,594.

able those skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to signal devices and particularly to devices of this class designed for use in connection with a railway where a road or thoroughfare crosses the same, and the object of the invention is to provide a signal device of the classand for the purpose speciiedwhich is in circuit with the tracks of a railway wherebya train approaching a road rosffng the tracks of a railway will automatically actuate signal devices to signal motorists, vehicle drivers or others' of the approach of a train; a further object being to provide a signal device or devices of the class specified which will also normally indicate that the tracks of the railway are, clear and the same may be crossed without danger; and with these and other object; lin`view the invention consists' in a signal device of the class and'for the purpose spepiied which is simple in-construction, a -*Somatic in operation and constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view diagrammatically illustrating the use of my improved si al devices;

ig. 2 a d tail front view of one of my improved si'gia'l devices with part of the corstruction broken away and in section; an

Fig. 3 a diagrammatic sectional `view partially on the line 3-3 of Fig.2 and showingX the interior structure of one of my improved signal evices. l

In Fig. 1 of the drawing I have shown ,for the purpose of'illustrating one 'use of my invention, a track 10 of a railway and at 11 a road crossing such track, and at 12 I have shown two of my signal post constructions located at the opposite sides of the track of a railway and on the sides of the road 11. i

The signal posts comprise in the construction shown bases 13, standards "14 and boi: shaped signal heads 15, the front faces of which are open, and said openings are closed by transparent or translucent panels 16, di-

vided centrally into top and bottom members 17 and 18, the top member being preferably colored green and provided with the word Go and the letters R X R thereon, while the member 18 is preferably colored red and is provided with the word Stop and the letters R R thereon. The words Gro and Stop may appear in any desired manner but will preferably appear in white letters on the green and red backgrounds and will be visible both ,in the daytime and at night.

Mounted 1n the casing 15 or head of each of the signal posts is an electric lamp bulb 19 placed in circuit with a suitable source of electrical supply through-wires 2O which connect with the socket for the bulb 19,v and pivotally mounted in the casing land adjacent to theopposite ends thereof are arms A2l joined by a -cross rod 22 with which is coupled a floating Vcore 23 of a solenoid 24 by means of a link 21a and to the ends of the arms 21 is pivotally mounted a shutter plate 25 which is adapted to move upwardly and downwardlyl inthe casing in juxtaposition to the transparent or translucent panel, or

the Separate members 17 and 18 thereof, and

this shutter normally covers the member 18 and the light from the bulb 19 passes through the member 17 and the letters formed thereln to show a greenlight with the word Go and letters R X R appearing therein. The solev noid 24 is placed in circuit with the rails* of the track 10 by circuit wires 26 and the circuit to the solenoid is closed-through the rails of the track 10 in the usual manner by the locomotive or car passing thereover, or the solenoid may be placed in the usualblock circuit of the track or tracks of the railway and be automatically operated in the manner of actuating any signal device commonly employed in such circuits. The solenoid is also diagrammatically illustrated at 24 in Fi'g.

From the foregoing it will be understood thatmy improved signal post normally illuminates the" member 17 of the transparent or translucent-panel 16, which is pre-ferablyfcolored green. and indicates that the track or tracks of a railway to be crossed is clear to a motoristor others approaching such' railroad crossing. In the event of a locomotive or car on the track or tracks of the railway approaching a road provided withmy signal devices, however, the same will be automatically actuated by the completion of the circuit to the solenoid 24 of the signal post to move the shutter thereof upwardly to cover the member 17 and expose the member 18 of the transparent in panels 16 and a red light will appear in the signal posts as well as the word Stop and R X R indicating the approach to a railroad crossing and also designating that a train or locomotive is about to cross the roadway.

I am well aware of the fact that signal devices have been employed endeavoring to produce the result produced bythe use of my improved signal post or posts, but to my knowledge the desired result has not been accomplished in a simple and yet positive manner to clearly and definitely warn 'motorists or others of their approach to a railroad crossing, and with my improvement I not only give. a warning or danger signal but also a signal ofelear traiiic at a. railroad crossing, it being understood that normally the signal Go with the letters R X R will appear a d be illuminated in the signal posts emp oyed. It will also be understood that my invention is not limited lo the speciic details of construction herein shownv vand described for carrying my invention into effect, and various changes therein and modifications thereof may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages, and it' will also be understood that while I have shown a may apply to a railway of any number of tracks where a road or thoroughfare crosses the same, and m'y improved signal posts may be of any .general form and construction but are preferably loc-ated in the manner shown and described.

Having fullydescribed my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A railroad crossing signal of the class described comprising a suitable standard provided in the top portion thereof with a head in one face of which is mounted an exposed translucent plate, means within said head for illuminating said plate, said plate being provided with diiferently colored signal elements, means positionedy between said illuminating means and said plate for controlling the signal elements of said head, and means for automatically operating Said last named means.

2. A railroad crossing signal of the class described comprisingr a suitable standard provided in the top portion thereof with a head in one face ot' which is mounted an exposed translucent plate, means within said head 4for illuminating said plate, said plate being provided with differently colored signal elements, means positioned between sald 1 illuminating means and said plate for controlling the signal elements of said head, and means, incircuit with the block system of a railway for automatically controlling the operation of said last named means.

3.; A railroad crossing signal of the class described comprising a suitable standard provided inthe top portion thereof with a. head, ope face of said head being provided with differently colored signal elements, means 'within said head for illuminating said sifrnal"` elements, and a shutter device positioned :between said illuminating means and said' signal elements and cooperating with said'. signal elements for controlling the operation' tliereof.

4. A railroad crossing signal of the class described comprising a suitable standard `provided in the top portion thereof with a head, one face of said head being provided with differently colored signal elements, means withini said head for illuminating said signal elements, a shutter device positioned betweeiiisaid illuminating means and said signal elements and cooperating with, said signal elements for controlling lthe operation thereof', and a solenoid in circuit with a block system of a railway for automatically -actuatin said shutter device.

5. A railroad cr ssing signal of the class described comprisi g a suitable standard provided in the to portion thereof with'a headone face'of s id head being provided with differently ctlored signal elements, means 4within said head for illuminating said signal elements. a shutter device positioned between said illuminating means and said signal elements and cooperatin with said signal elements for controlling t e operation tliereof, a solenoid in circuit with a block system of a iiailway for. automatically actuating said shutter device, the circuit to said illuminating?"` means being normally closed.

6. A railroad crossing signal of the class described comprising signal posts adapted to be mounted at the right hand side of. a roadway in juxtaposition to the track of a railway crossing said roadway, and at the opposite sides of said track,said signal posts being provided'with designated go and stop illuminating means for automatically vcontrolling said signals, said means being in circuit with a block s stem of the railway.

7. A railroad crossing signal of the class described comprising signal posts adapted to be mounted at the right hand side of a roadway in juxtaposition to the track offa railway crossing said roadway, and at the opposite sides of said track, said signalfposts leo ^ being provided with designated recente go and stop signals, means for illuminating said signals, means positioned between said signals and illuminating means for automatically controlling said signals, said means being in circuit with' a block system of the railway, and said illuminating means being in a normally closed circuit. y

8. A signal device 'of the class described comprising a box-shaped casing mounted upon a suitable standard, the front face of said casing being closed by 'a translucent panel provided with top and bottom and dii'- ferently designated signal elements, a shutter device movably mounted in said casing rearwardly of said translucent panel and normally in position to expose one of the signal elements of said casing, and means in said casing for illuminating said signalelements.

9. A signal device of the class described comprising a box-shaped casing mounted upon a suitable standard, the front face'of `said casing being closed by a translucent panel provided with top and bottom and differently designated signal elements, a shutter device movably mounted in said casing rearwardly of said translucent panel and normally in position to expose one of the signal elements of said casing, means in said casing for illuminating said signal elements, and means for automatically movingsaid shutter device into position to expose the other of said signal elements.

10. A signal device of the class described comprising a box-shaped casing mounted upon a suitable standard, the front face of said casing being closed by atranslucent panel provided with top and bottom and differently designated signal elements, aV

shutter device movably mounted in said casing rearwardly of said translucent panel and normally in position to expose one of the signal elements of said casing, means in said other of said signal elements, said means be* f ing in circuit with the block system of a railway.

l1. A signal device of the class described comprising a box-shaped casing mounted upon a suitable standard, the front face of said casing being closed by a translucent panel provided with top and bottom and differently Adesignated .signal elements, a shutter device movably mounted in said casing rearwardly of said translucent panel and normally in position to 'expose one of the signal elements of said casing, means in said casingifor illuminating said signal elements, and means for automatically moving said shutter device into position to expose the other of said signal elements, said means being in ,circuit with the block system of a railwayand involving a solenoid mounted in said'casing.

1Q. A signal device of the class described comprising a box-sbaped casing mounted upon a suitable standard, the front face of said casing being provided with a translucent panel provided with top and bottom differently designated signal elements, a shutter device mounted to move upwardly and downwardly in said casing in juxtaposition to said signal elements and normally exposing one of said signal elements,

and means in said casing vfor illuminatingr said signal elements.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invent-ion I have signed my name in presence of the subscribing witnesses this 17th day of October, 1922.

HENRY HEIMENDINGER.

Witnesses ALBERT SIDNEY JOHNSON. SYDNEY Hansis. 

